Lore:Caecilus Bursio

High Astrologer Caecilus Bursio
High Astrologer Caecilus Bursio
Race	Imperial	Gender	Male
Born		Second Era
Resided in		Belkarth Stros M'Kai
Appears in		ESO

The Star-Gazers' Observatory

"I am one of the most experienced members of our order now. I have visited the great observatory in Stros M'Kai. I have charted the movements of the constellations every night without fail. I have seen our mighty Guardians fall from the sky—and still I live, when many of my colleagues do not. Now that we have gained some degree of legitimacy within the scholarly establishment, now that I am High Astrologer, I should be at the forefront of our efforts to educate." —High Astrologer Caecilus Bursio

High Astrologer Caecilus Bursio was an Imperial member of the Star-Gazers of Belkarth. He held a senior position within the order and was renowned for his prolific writings, as well as his expertise in star navigation and the study of constellations.

History

The Celestial Thief

Little is known about Caecilus Bursio's early life. He was an active member of the Star-Gazers and held the position of High Astrologer for an unknown period before 2E 582. Prior to this, he crossed paths with the renowned Arcanist Azandar al-Cybiades—once a member of the order—who is said to have thrown an aetheric construct at Bursio's head during their encounter.

By the time the Constellations fell from the sky in 2E 582, Caecilus Bursio was one of the most experienced members of the Star-Gazers. His skill in charting the movements of the constellations was unparalleled. He had visited the great observatory in Stros M'Kai, and had witnessed the Celestials fall from the sky—an event that claimed the lives of many of his fellow Star-Gazers, but left him standing, still with the wisdom to recount the tale. The fall of the Celestials was preceded by their brief and mysterious appearance in the sky, where they flickered and then vanished. Bursio recorded this strange event in his journal on Sundas. The following day, he noted that armies of sand giants had appeared in the foothills, attacking the precious Mundus Stones. He also mentioned that individuals claiming to be the Celestials had launched attacks across every corner of Craglorn. Around that time, he authored Songs of the Stars. The fall of the constellations marked a turning point for the order, granting them a degree of legitimacy within the scholarly establishment that they had long been denied.

As a High Astrologer, Bursio felt it was his responsibility to lead the order's efforts to educate others. He believed that with the newfound recognition of the Star-Gazers, it was his duty to be at the forefront, sharing the knowledge they had accumulated and guiding the next generation of scholars in the study of the stars. Yet, despite this sense of responsibility, he struggled to set aside the bitterness and scorn that the years of derision—both he and his order had endured—had left on his heart. Instead, he grew increasingly withdrawn, spending his days in the archives, consumed by study. He believed that if the stars could fall from the sky and manifest physically on Nirn, much of what had been theorized about the stars—and the very nature of the Mundus—was either wrong or far more incomplete than they had realized. While others sought recognition and status, he remained fixated on the sky, ever vigilant. In his research, he sifted through rare and ancient tomes, coming across numerous references to a long-lost Dwemer text called Harmonic Astronymics, believing it might hold the answers to the questions that consumed him. The order had no copy of the tome, but Bursio was determined to find it. The Star-Gazers were eventually joined by the Celestial Thief, who appeared under the guise of a woman named Hara. With the assistance of the Vetige, she played a key role in bringing the crisis in Craglorn to an end.

Circa 2E 582, Caecilus Bursio responded to inquiries on various topics related to constellations through correspondence. Among the subjects he addressed were the unstars, a phenomenon the Star-Gazers were studying under his guidance. He also delved into the nature of the constellation of the Shadow, noting that in poetry and myth, it has often been associated with themes of unbeing and the void. However, he also pointed out that some interpret the Shadow differently, seeing it as the opposite of Magnus' light—one of the many manifestations of the Anuic/Padomaic duality that shapes the Mundus. Additionally, Bursio discussed the widespread phenomenon of linking mythic and legendary figures to specific constellations, a practice common throughout Tamriel. He provided examples to illustrate this phenomenon, such as the traditional association of St. Alessia, the First Empress, with the constellation of The Thief, while her consort, Morihaus, was linked to The Lord and bore the Lord's Mail as his symbol. He also explored the potential connection between Ysmir and the constellation of The Warrior.

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Elder Scrolls Online article.

Books

• Caecilius' Journal by Caecilus Bursio — A foreboding journal surrounding strange astronomical phenomena
• High Astrologer Caecilus Bursio Answers Your Questions by High Astrologer Caecilus Bursio — The High Astrologer of the Star-Gazers answers questions on lore
• Songs of the Stars by High Astrologer Caecilus Bursio — A Star-Gazer reflects on his order's newfound relevance